Synthetic nanostructures including nucleic acids and/or other entities

Abstract

Articles, compositions, kits, and methods relating to nanostructures, including synthetic nanostructures, are provided. Certain embodiments described herein include structures having a core-shell type arrangement; for instance, a nanostructure core may be surrounded by a shell including a material, such as a lipid bilayer, and may include other components such as oligonucleotides. In some embodiments, the structures, when introduced into a subject, can be used to deliver nucleic acids and/or can regulate gene expression. Accordingly, the structures described herein may be used to diagnose, prevent, treat or manage certain diseases or bodily conditions. In some cases, the structures are both a therapeutic agent and a diagnostic agent.

1 . A structure comprising:
 a nanostructure core;   a shell comprising a lipid surrounding and attached to the nanostructure core; and   an oligonucleotide adapted to regulate gene expression associated with at least a portion of the shell,   wherein the structure is adapted to sequester cholesterol.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . A structure comprising:
 a nanostructure core; and   a cholesterol-modified oligonucleotide associated with the nanostructure core.   
     
     
         4 . A nanostructure comprising an oligonucleotide adapted to regulate gene expression, a lipid, and an apolipoprotein. 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . A method comprising:
 delivering the structure of  claim 1  to a subject or a biological sample; and   regulating gene expression in the subject or biological sample.   
     
     
         7 . A pharmaceutical composition, comprising:
 the structure of  claim 1 ; and   one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, additives, and/or diluents.   
     
     
         8 . A kit for diagnosing, preventing, treating or managing a disease or bodily condition comprising:
 a composition comprising a plurality of structures of  claim 1 ; and   instructions for use of the composition for diagnosing, preventing, treating or managing a disease or bodily condition.   
     
     
         9 .- 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A structure as in  claim 1 , wherein the shell comprises a lipid bilayer. 
     
     
         16 . A structure as in  claim 15 , wherein the lipid bilayer comprises a phospholipid. 
     
     
         17 - 27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . A structure as in  claim 1 , wherein the shell comprises an apolipoprotein. 
     
     
         29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . A structure as in  claim 28 , wherein the apolipoprotein is apolipoprotein A-I, apolipoprotein A-II, or apolipoprotein E. 
     
     
         31 - 46 . (canceled) 
     
     
         47 . A structure as in  claim 1 , wherein the nanostructure core has a largest cross-sectional dimension of less than or equal to about 30 nm. 
     
     
         48 .- 51 . (canceled) 
     
     
         52 . A structure as in  claim 1 , wherein the nanostructure core comprises an inorganic material. 
     
     
         53 - 55 . (canceled) 
     
     
         56 . A structure as in  claim 1 , wherein the nanostructure core comprises a polymer, or is substantially formed from a polymer. 
     
     
         57 - 83 . (canceled) 
     
     
         84 . A structure as in  claim 1 , wherein the oligonucleotide has a length of about 10 to about 100 nucleotides or base pairs in length. 
     
     
         85 - 86 . (canceled) 
     
     
         87 . A structure as in  claim 1 , wherein the oligonucleotide comprises antisense DNA, siRNA, or microRNA. 
     
     
         88 . A method as in  claim 6 , further comprising releasing at least a portion of the oligonucleotide from the structure. 
     
     
         89 . A structure as in  claim 1 , wherein the oligonucleotide is covalently or near-covalently bonded to the nanostructure core or to the shell. 
     
     
         90 . A structure as in  claim 1 , wherein the oligonucleotide is physisorbed onto a portion of the shell. 
     
     
         91 . (canceled) 
     
     
         92 . A structure as in  claim 1 , wherein the oligonucleotide is modified with a lipid. 
     
     
         93 . A structure as in  claim 1 , wherein the oligonucleotide is cholesterylated. 
     
     
         94 . A structure as in  claim 1 , wherein the oligonucleotide comprises 5′-cholesteryl DNA or 3′-cholesteryl DNA. 
     
     
         95 - 96 . (canceled) 
     
     
         97 . A structure as in  claim 1 , wherein the structure is both a therapeutic and a diagnostic agent. 
     
     
         98 . A structure as in  claim 1 , wherein the structure is adapted to deliver therapeutic oligonucleotides and/or is adapted to be used as an intracellular diagnostic sensor. 
     
     
         99 . A structure as in  claim 1 , wherein the oligonucleotide comprises a fluorophore that is adapted to change in fluorescence intensity upon binding to a target protein or a small molecule.